Umbrella

ABSTRACT

An umbrella having a stick, a crown at one end of the stick, dome ribs hinged to the crown, each dome rib including three sections foldable one on the other, a quadrilateral support including a first member hinged to the outermost foldable section and to an extension of the innermost section of the dome rib, and extending parallel to the intermediate section, and a second support member hinged to an extension of the first support member and to a runner on the stick, and a third support member hinged to a main runner on the stick slidable on the stick and the median point of the innermost dome rib section.

United States Patent [191 S chfifer [4 1 Aug. 26, 1975 UMBRELLA [75] Inventor: Josef Schiifer, Solingen, Germany [73] Assignee: Telesco Brophey Limited, Montreal,

Canada 22 Filed: July 3,1973

21 Appl. No.1 376,127

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 15, 1972 Germany 2234939 [52] US. Cl 135/25 R [51] Int. Cl. A45B 19/04; A45B 19/10 [58] Field of Search 135/20, 25, 26

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,249,007 12/1917 Block 135/25 R Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E. Mitchell; Alan Swabey [5 7] ABSTRACT An umbrella having a stick, a crown at one end of the stick, dome ribs hinged to the crown, each dome rib including three sections foldable one on the other, a quadrilateral support including a first member hinged to the outermost foldable section and to an extension of the innermost section of the dome rib, and extending parallel to the intermediate section, and a second support member hinged to an. extension of the first support member and to a runner on the stick, and a third support member hinged to a main runner on the stick slidable on the stick and the median point of the innermost dome rib section. a

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 'PATENTED AUG261975 3,901,257 sum 2 0F 3 PATENTED AUGZ 8 I975 SHIET 3 OF 3 UMBRELLA BACKGROUND or INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an umbrella, and more particularly to an umbrella of the collapsible type wherein the dome ribs are in multiple sections so that they can be folded into a small package when the umbrella is being closed. I

2. Description of Prior Art It is of advantage in the construction of umbrellas to construct them such that they are as small as possible so that the umbrella, when not in use, can easily be stowed in a purse or overcoat pocket. i

Many developments-have been made in recent years to reduce the size of the umbrella when it is not in use, i.e., the stick and the dome ribs are made of three sections which can be collapsed, either by telescoping the sectionsor by a combination of telescoping the sections and folding them. The main disadvantage in the socalled three-stage umbrella is that the dome ribs are not always easily coontrolled for opening or closing.

In recent developments, an umbrella has been constructed whereinthethree sections of each dome rib fold in a zig-z'ag-fashion with the other sections so that the sections stack one on the other. Two stretcher members for each dome'rib are provided, hinged to the.

main runner with the first 'strecher pivoted to the outer end of the first dome rib section hinged to the crown of the umbrella, while the second stretcher is hinged to the hinge point of the outer dome rib section with a median dome rib section. This latter stretcher member must be relatively long and,therefore, it determines the length of the umbrella frame when it is collapsed. However, the long stretcher 'member is necessary to control the movement of the three pivoting dome rib sections and, therefore, the size of the collapsed umbrella is compromised.

, SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an aim of the present invention to provide a three-stage umbrella wherein the dome ribs are of the foldable type and wherein sufficient remote control is provided to open and close the three umbrella sections by means of moving the main runner on the stick, yet the umbrella is capable of being'shortened to a length comparable with conventional three-stage umbrellas.

A construction in accordance with the present invention includes an umbrella frame having a crown at one end, dome ribs hinged to the crown, each dome rib including three folding sections with an inner section hinged to the crown, an intermediate section hinged to the inner section near the end thereof and an outer section hinged to the other end of the intermediate section; a main runner sliding on the stick; an auxiliary runner sliding on the stick between the main runner and the crown, the main runner including a strut member hinged thereto and to a median point of the inner dome rib sections; a first support member hinged to the outer section at a point spaced from the hinge point between the outer dome rib section and the intermediate section, said support member being hinged near its other end to an extension of theinner dome rib section beyond the hinge point with the intermediate dome rib section such that the extension of the inner dome rib section, the intermediate section, the spacing between the hinge point of the outer section to the intermediate section and the hinge point of the support member to the outer section forms a quadrilateral. A stretcher member is hinged to the auxiliary runner and to an extension of the support member to maintain opening and closingcontrol of the quadrilateral so formed as the inner dome rib section is being hinged open or closed by means of the main runner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the umbrella i in its fully closed position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a detail of the umbrella; and

FIG. S-is a horizontal cross section taken along lines V-V of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTIGN OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The umbrella frame of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a-telescopic stick 1 having three telescoping sections 2, 3 and 4. Spring-urged locking means 5 are provided near the ends of the sections for maintaining the sections in an extended position when the umbrella is open. A crown 6 is provided at the end of the umbrella stick section 2. Dome ribs 7 are hinged to the crown by means of a continual hinge wire 8 which passes in the peripheral groove 9. Each dome rib 7 includes an inner section which is hinged to the crown, an intermediate section 7b which is hinged to the inner section 7a at a point 28 spaced from the end thereof, and an outer section 70 which is hinged at 26 to the end of the intermediate section 7b.

There is a main runner l0 slidable on the stick. The main runner includes an axially-extending sleeve 35 which acts as a spacer as will be described later,

A strut memberll is hinged to the main runner 10 and to a median point 12 on the dome rib section 7a.

Each strut member 11, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, includes a channel cross section having a relatively broad web 16 and an elongated slot 17 defined longitudinally thereof.

An auxiliary runner 13 slides between the sleeve 35 of the main runner 10 and the crown 6. A stretcher member 14 is hinged at one end to the auxiliary runner 13 and passes through the elongated slot 17 in the web 16 of the strut 11.

A quadrilateral operating structure I is formed with the intermediate section 7b. The quadrilateral structure I includes a support link member 15 of channel-shaped cross section which is hinged at one end to hinge pin 27 to a reinforced portion of outer section 76 spaced a short distance from the hinge pin 26. The other end of the support link 15 is hinged to the end of the inner section 7a at hinge, pin 29. The link 15 extends beyond the hinge pin 29 in a short extension 30 and hinges the other end of stretcher member 14 at hinge pin 19. The quadrilateral structure is formed between the link 15, the extension 25 of the inner section 7a, the intermediate dome rib section 7b and the portion 24 between the hinge pins 26 and 27 of outer section 70. Controlled movement of the quadrilateral I is provided through the stretcher member 14, while the positive movement of the dome ribs is afforded by the strut member 11.

A compression spring 31 is provided between the crown 6 and an auxiliary runner 13 on the umbrella stick 1. This spring 31 urges the auxiliary runner 13 towards the handle 32 when the runner is in the area of the crown 6. It is noted that proper notches 37 are cut out in the channel-shaped intermediate section 7b and the link 15 so that when the umbrella is in the open erect position of FIG. 1 or in the closed collapsed posi tion of FIG. 3, the hinges 26, 29 will be accommodated.

It is also noted, as shown in FIG. 5, that the relative cross-sectional configuration of the channel-shaped members 1 1, 7a, 7b and 15 are such that each member will nest one within the other when the umbrella is in a closed position. It is also noted that the link member 15 and the intermediate section 7b are in a relatively close nested position when the umbrella is in an open erected position as shown in FIG. 1.

It should also be noted from a structural point of view that a second quadrilateral II is formed'by means of inner dome rib sections 7a, a portion of the stick 1, the stretcher member 14 and the extension 30 of link member 15.

In operation, when it is desired to open the umbrella from a closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, the strip of material normally holding the cover closed about the frame is first released and the dome ribs will open slightly from the position in FIG. 3, partly because of its natural tendency to spread and the compressed spring 31 exerting a force on the auxiliary runner 13. The hinge pin 20, for instance, will be moved slightly outwardly by means of the bend 34 in the stretcher member 14. Accordingly, the dome rib section 7a and the strut 11 move out of their nested, almost selflocking position, and the main runner 10 will now be moved towards the crown. While the runner 10 is being moved towards the crown 6, the auxiliary runner is being moved slightly towards the runner 10 by means of the spring 31, thereby assisting in the opening operation of the dome rib sections. As the umbrella is being opened, such as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the strut 11 is almost at right angles to the dome rib sections 7a, the stretcher member 14 is under tension. Locking lever 36 of the runner 10 will engage an opening in the stick when the runner has reached its uppermost position in the opening of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 1 i.e. the upper end of sleeve engages auxillary runner 13 and spring 31 is compressed.

When it is necessary to close the umbrella, the locking lever 36 is disengaged from the stick and runner 10 is moved downwardly towards the handle 32. The spring compressed 31 again urges the auxiliary runner 13 downwardly causing stretcher 14 to move down to a position as shown in FIG. 2, whereby the quadrilaterals I and II will be oriented so that they will more readily collapse.

It should be noted that where scissors-type umbrella frames have been used in the past, the scissors structure or cross-over struts would not normally prove satisfactory, since the struts would bend or fold on each other under compression. One of the main causes of this is that the struts were made of flat blade-like members in view of the necessary economy of space. However, in the present structure, one of the scissors members, that is, the strut 11 is of a structurally strong channel cross section, and the stretcher member 14 is guided through a slot 17 within the strut member 16. Since the strut member 14 will not normally be under compression, but is usually under tension in the various operating positions of the umbrella, there will not be a tendency of the stretcher member 14 to bend or collapse.

Accordingly, the scissors-like structure of the present invention is considerably more stable and stronger than those in previous developments.

It is also noted, when the umbrella is in its fully erect position, that the strut 11 is at a relatively sharp angle compared with conventional umbrellas where the strut or stretcher member is normally hinged to the end of the inner dome rib section. Accordingly, since the quadrilaterals I and II are relatively flat and closed in the fully erect position, and in veiw of the angle of strut member 1 1, there is considerably more head room provided in the umbrella than in conventional umbrellas.

I claim:

1. An umbrella frame including a stick, a crown at one end of the stick, a main runner slidable on the stick, an auxiliary runner slidable between the main runner and the crown, dome ribs hinged from the crown; each dome rib including a first section hinged to the crown, a second section hinged to the first section and adapted to fold over the first section and at least a third section hinged to the outer end of the second section and adapted to fold over on the second section; a first support member hinged to the main runner and to a substantially mediam point of the first dome rib section; a second support member hinged to the third dome rib section at a point spaced from the hinge point between the second dome rib section and the third dome rib section, said second support member being hinged near its other end to an extension of the first dome rib section beyond the hinge point with the second dome rib section, such that the extension of the first dome rib section, the second dome rib section, the spacing between the hinge point of the third dome rib section to the second dome rib section and the hinge point of the second support member and the third dome rib section form a first quadrilateral; and a stretcher member hinged to the auxiliary runner and to an extension of the second support member forming with the inner dome rib section and a portion of the stick a second quadrilateral to maintain positive opening and closing control of the first quadrilateral so formed as the inner dome rib section is being pivoted between an open and closed position by means of the main runner and the first support member.

2. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 1, wherein the first support member is of channel cross section including a web portion defining a longitudinal slot through which the third support member passes therethrough and is guided.

3. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 2, wherein the first dome rib section is of channel cross section having parameters slightly less than the inner parameters of the first support member whereby when the umbrella is folded closed, the first dome rib section nests partially within the first support member.

4. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 3, wherein the second dome rib section is of channel cross section and is of parameters slightly smaller than the inner parameters of the first dome rib section such that the second dome rib section partially nests within the first dome rib section when the umbrella is in a folded closed position.

5. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 4, wherein the second support section is of channel cross member and has parameters such that it will nest within the second dome rib section when the umbrella is in a closed position and when the umbrella is in an open erect position.

6. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 5, wherein the third dome rib section is of such dimensions that it will nest within the channel-shaped cross section of the second support member when the umbrella is in a closed position.

7. The umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1 in which said main runner includes an axial sleeve projecting towards the auxiliary runner for abutting the auxiliary runner when the umbrella frame is opened; and a compression spring on said stick between said crown and the auxiliary runner for being compressed between the auxiliary runner and said crown during both the open and closed prositions of the umbrella frame to assist in both opening and closing of the umbrella frame.

8. The umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1 in which the hinge points of the first and second quadrilaterals are substantially fixed in the umbrella frame geometry so that changes in the shape of the second quadrilateral are reflected and cause an immediate response and change in the shape of the first quadrilateral when both opening and closing the umbrella frame. 

1. An umbrella frame including a stick, a crown at one end of the stick, a main runner slidable on the stick, an auxiliary runner slidable between the main runner and the crown, dome ribs hinged from the crown; each dome rib including a first section hinged to the crown, a second section hinged to the first section and adapted to fold over the first section and at least a third section hinged to the outer end of the second section and adapted to fold over on the second section; a first support member hinged to the main runner and to a substantially mediam point of the first dome rib section; a second support member hinged to the third dome rib section at a point spaced from the hinge point between the second dome rib section and the third dome rib section, said second support member being hinged near its other end to an extension of the first dome rib section beyond the hinge point with the second dome rib section, such that the extension of the first dome rib section, the second dome rib section, the spacing between the hinge point of the third dome rib section to the second dome rib section and the hinge point of the second support member and the third dome rib section form a first quadrilateral; and a stretcher member hinged to the auxiliary runner and to an extension of the second support member forming with the inner dome rib section and a portion of the stick a second quadrilateral to maintain positive opening and closing control of the first quadrilateral so formed as the inner dome rib section is being pivoted between an open and closed position by means of the main runner and the first support member.
 2. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 1, wherein the first support member is of channel cross section including a web portion defining a longitudinal slot through which the third support member passes therethrough and is guided.
 3. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 2, wherein the first dome rib section is of channel cross section having parameters slightly less than the inner parameters of the first support member whereby when the umbrella is folded closed, the first dome rib section nests partially within the first support member.
 4. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 3, wherein the second dome rib section is of channel cross section and is of parameters slightly smaller than the inner parameters of the first dome rib section such that the second dome rib section partially nests within the first dome rib section when the umbrella is in a folded closed position.
 5. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 4, wherein the second support section is of channel cross member and has parameters such that it will nest within the second dome rib section when the umbrella is in a closed position and when the umbrella is in an open erect position.
 6. An umbrella frame as defined in claim 5, wherein the third dome rib section is of such dimensions that it will nest within the channel-shaped cross section of the second support member when the umbrella is in a closed position.
 7. The umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1 in which said main runner includes an axial sleeve projecting towards the auxiliary runner for abutting the auxiliary runner when the umbrella frame is opened; and a compression spring on said stick between said crown and the auxiliary runner for being compressed between the auxiliary runner and said crown during both the open and closed prositions of the umbrella frame to assist in both opening and closing of the umbrella frame.
 8. The umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1 in which the hinge points of the first and second quadrilaterals are substantially fixed in the umbrella frame geometry so that changes in the shape of the second quadrilateral are reflected and cause an immediate response and change in the shape of the first quadrilateral wheN both opening and closing the umbrella frame. 